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Yuan Wang 5 research vessel: Indo-China tensions rise over Chinese vessel’s visit to SL

31 Jul 2022

The Government is currently facing a geopolitical conundrum involving India and China over the impending visit of a Chinese surveillance vessel to Sri Lanka on 11 August, it is learnt.  The Chinese Yuan Wang 5 research vessel – with satellite control and missile tracking capabilities –  is scheduled to call at the Hambantota Port on 11 August following the receipt of prior approval from the former Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government.  The Chinese Government had requested the Sri Lankan Government under former President Rajapaksa to allow the ship to dock at the port for replenishment of supplies and approval for the vessel to dock had been provided at the time.  However, with India voicing its objections over the Chinese vessel’s impending arrival in Sri Lanka, the present Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Indian side that approval for the Chinese vessel’s visit to Hambantota had been granted by the previous Government.  New Delhi on Thursday (28) expressed concerns over the Chinese vessel’s visit to Colombo when an Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman informed a weekly press briefing that the Indian Government was monitoring the planned visit of the Chinese ship, adding that New Delhi would protect its security and economic interests.  According to highly-placed Government sources, the Government is continuing to hold discussions with all parties concerned to address the concerns raised by India and the response by China.  When The Sunday Morning inquired from a senior Government source if there had been any breakthrough in the discussions on the Chinese vessel, the source maintained that there had been no breakthrough yet, although the Government was working on resolving the tension without straining relations with either India or China.  The Chinese have meanwhile maintained that the Chinese vessel will call at the Hambantota Port as planned, carry out its documented work, and leave without any interference. The Chinese vessel is due to dock on 11 August, two days after the completion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises. The RIMPAC exercises also include the Indian Navy.  Meanwhile, in June, Indian armed forces tested two separate nuclear-capable missiles – the Agni-IV ballistic missile and the Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile.  Both India and China are currently playing key roles in Sri Lanka’s economic revival plan. India has already provided close to $ 4 billion in financial assistance this year, with more aid and credit lines under discussion.  The Sri Lankan Government has also sought financial assistance, including a credit line from China, to tide the country through the economic crisis, while also initiating negotiations with China’s EXIM Bank on debt restructuring, which has become a prerequisite for International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance for Sri Lanka.  The last time tensions rose high between India and China over vessels calling at Colombo was in November 2014, when Submarine Chang Zheng-2 and war ship Chang Xing Dao arrived at the Colombo Port on 31 October 2014 during the tenure of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  Both the submarine and warship were in Colombo for a period of five days. A month-and-a-half prior to these vessels, another Chinese submarine had also called at the same port.  Despite claims by the then Mahinda Rajapaksa Government that the visits were routine and part of goodwill visits, the Indian authorities did not accept Colombo’s explanation and it even led to strained relations between Sri Lanka and India.  


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